Merchandise display appliance



- Jan. 16, 1945. c KOLLMAN 2,367,289

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY APPLIANCE Filed Oct/27, 1941 mxwm @Z /W QINVENTOR v gzlxfibnusv Patented Jan. 16, 1945 2,367,289 rmRcnAnmsE msPLAY APPLIANCE I I -chir 5-ji .xa11man, Fort Wayne, Ind.

"Application Oct'ober27, 1941, Serial No. 416,697 I ('01. 211-86) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in merchandisevdisplay appliances consisting of a supporting fixture and -aremovable tray arranged in conjunction with a show-case having a door through which access is had to the tray. I

An object of the'invention is. to provide-inconspicuous fixtures that are readily positioned adjustably in a show-case so'constructed as to afford substantial supportfor-individual trays in which merchandise is displayed.

Another object of the'invention is'to afiord a which iseasily removed and replaced without disturbance of itssupporting fixture. 7 Other objects and advantages of the v invention appear in the following description,

.An illustrative embodiment. of the invention is, shown in the accompanying drawing. in which; a

Fig. l is a rear elevational view of a fixture in their opposing faces vertically elongated gains V or'sockets 8 disposed in pairs in horizontal planes spaced apart from each other. The sockets are shaped to snugly receive the corresponding an,- chors 4 of thefixtures. Each fixture is made of spring wire and isiniti'ally shapedso the'spread between its anchors is substantially greater than the distance between the door jambsso that by springing the sides of the fixture toward each other and then letting the anchors into the corresponding sockets in the door jambs by allowing the sides to spring outwardly, the fixture is thereupon rigidly secured in place byreactionary spring force. When thus positioned in the show? case the forward portion ofthe fixture extends in a substantially horizontal or inclined plane as maybedesired.

supported in operative position in the door jambs of a show-case, the jambs'being in section;

Fi 2 is a transverse elevational view of. the structure shownin Fig. 1 in section on the line 22 thereof, and including a tray? Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the supporting fixture, a tray thereon and the door jambs supporting the fixture, the jambs being in section on the line 3-3 of Fig.1; 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary illustration of a modified form of the fixture and the door j ambs therefor; and

.wardly turned alined extensions 3 that terminate,

in downwardly'bent parts constituting anchors 4. The wire is inwardly backturned at points contiguous with the forward endsof the parallel arms to form stops 5, fromwhich the adjacent portions of the Wire converge forwardly and unite in an upturned bend to provide a forward tray rest 6.

The door jambs I of the show-case have made A merchandise tray 9; which may be of any suitable design in which merchandise is placed for display, is provided on its bottom with a transversely disposed cleat l0 having a forwardly extending lip- I t, the length of the cleat being somewhat less than the distance between the parallel arms 2 of'thefixture so that free movement of, the cleat between the parallel arms is permitted in positioning the tray upon or removing'it from the fixture. The cleat has engagement with the stops 5 and its lip l i underlaps the stops when the tray is placed properly in operative position on the-fixture so that the tray becomes definitely alined and held in place respecting the fixture.

The end board l2 of the tray rests upon the parallel arms 2, and the bottom l3 of the tray rests upon the upturned forward support 6. Thus,

the'tray when in position on the fixture has three definite points of support upon which it is held down by engagement of the lip beneath the stops 5, and dislodgment of the fixture from the door jambs is preventedby the cleat which is then lo cated between the parallel arms 2 which circumvents displacement of the anchors from their sockets.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the door jamb I4 has made therein a vertical groove 15 and a series of spaced sockets [6, said sockets extending into the jamb from the bottom of the groove. In this instance'each anchor end of the fixture i1 is bent to form a shoulder I 8 at its juncture with the adjacent extension [9 and has an outwardly extending terminal 20. When this type of fixture and door jamb are employed the shoulder fits in the groove [5 and the terminal 20 projects into the socket l6. Thus, the fixture when in place is sustained ina definite position in the show-case.

In use, the fixtures are conveniently secured in selective positions in the show-case and are rearranged as to their positions when desired simply by springing their sides inwardly and then releasing them to let their terminals into the corresponding sockets in the door jambs or by reof said case have sockets therein, consisting of a fixture and a tray supported thereby within the show-case, said fixture being formed of a spring rod shaped to have side arms adapted to be sprung toward and from each other, each arm terminating in a part constituting an anchor adapted for reception correspondingly in said sockets, the forward portion of said fixture, at the juncture of the sides thereof being upturned to provide a tray rest, said tray having a pendent transverse cleat that is disposed between said arms when the tray is in place that prevents dislodgment of said fixture.

2. A merchandise display appliance for a showcase where the door jambs thereof have socketstherein, consisting of a fixture and a tray supported thereby in the show-case, said fixture being formed of a spring rod shaped to have side arms, the free ends of which constitute anchors adapted for reception in said sockets respectively, each arm having an inwardly back turned medial portion providing a stop, said tray having upon its bottom a pendent cleat that is disposed, when the tray is in position, between said arms and limits forward movement of the tray on said fixture by contact with said stops, said cleat having a forwardly extending lip that underlies said stops whereby'the tray is held down upon said fixture.

3. A merchandise display appliance for a showcase, the opposing faces of the door jambs of which have sockets therein, consisting of a tray and a fixture for supporting said tray in the showcase, said fixture being formed of a spring rod shaped to provide a forward upturned portion and side members that constitute three points of support for said tray when positioned on said fixture, said side members having bent terminals at their rear ends constituting anchors that are received in said sockets to support the fixture in a definite position, said tray having a transverse cleat that is disposed between and has guided relation with said members.

4. A merchandise display appliance for a showcase, the opposing faces of the door jambs of which have sockets therein, consisting of a tray and a fixture for supporting said tray, said fixture being formed of a spring rod shaped to provide a forward portion and side members that constitute supports for said tray when positioned on said fixture, the rear terminals of said side members being shaped for reception in said sockets to support'the fixture in a definite position in the show-case, and medial backturned portions to provide stops, said tray having a transverse cleat that has guided relation with said side members and engagement with said stops wherefore said tray is centered upon said fixture.

5. A merchandise display appliance for a showcase, the opposing faces of the door jambs of which have sockets therein, consisting of a tray and a fixture for supporting said tray, said fixture being formed of a spring rod shaped to provide a forward portion and side members that constitute supports for said tray when positioned on said fixture, the rear terminals of said side members being shaped for reception in said sockets to support the fixture'in a definite position in the show-case, and medial back turned portions to provide rearwardly extending stops, said tray having on its bottom a transverse cleat provided with a forwardly extending lip, disposed between said members, guided thereby and engaged with said stops when the tray is placed on said fixture with said lip underlying said stops.

CHARLES F. KOLLMAN. 

